Community Food Produce Coordinator – Devon & Cornwall Region
Reporting to: Hub Manager
Salary: £25,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Terms: Full-time (9 months fixed term contract to end March ’26, with possibility to extend beyond this date), 25 days holiday pro-rata (exc. Bank Holidays), 5% pension contribution
Responsible for: Volunteers
Location: Sisna Park Hub, Plymouth.
About FareShare South West
FareShare South West (FSSW) joins the dots between food waste and hunger, empowering communities to turn an environmental problem into lasting social good. We rescue tonnes of quality surplus food from the industry and share it with charities and schools to bring health, dignity, and routes out of poverty for people across the South West. Our supportive volunteering and employability programmes offer local people the opportunity to thrive. By joining us, you’ll be part of an inclusive, friendly team in a small but fast-growing charity that helps fight the injustice of who gets to afford a healthy diet.
FareShare South West is an independent local charity, working in partnership with FareShare UK. By being part of the national FareShare network, we can help rescue more food. By being small and independent, we can remain close to our local partners and people and continuously adapt to meet the needs of local communities. The member charities we share food with transform lives, using food to connect people with other support and routes out of poverty, including children and families, people on low incomes, homeless people, refugees, domestic abuse survivors, people in recovery, older people, and many others.
Purpose of the post
Working with the Hub Manager & operations team, the Community Food Produce Coordinator will effectively support the warehouse operation, incoming goods, storage and dispatch of goods to Community Food Members (CFMs) receiving surplus food from FareShare South West - to high levels of compliance and service. The role includes a focus on increasing the volume of food being redistributed, with particular focus on Produce.
This role will include supervision of a large and diverse team of volunteers throughout the week.
Key Responsibilities:

Warehouse Supervision

• Working with the warehouse team, ensure the smooth running of food intake, storage and food distribution. Liaising with food industry representatives, FareShare UK (FSUK), distribution companies and hauliers to maximise the volume of food we can distribute to our CFMs.
• Support the warehouse team in coordinating and maintaining the fleet of vans and machinery used.
• Ongoing support to the Hub Manager to ensure high levels of compliance in the warehouse throughout the year and for internal/external audits.
• Work with the warehouse team, Head of Operations and Food Team to reduce waste and maximise the distribution of surplus food to CFMs.
• Report to Hub Manager with operational improvements to increase efficiency and implement agreed changes.

Volunteer Supervision

• Lead teams of volunteers from our cohort of over 200, delegating/assigning tasks, delivering training and supervising work to ensure all tasks are completed effectively.
• Support, train and coordinate volunteer van crews to deliver food across the South West.
• Ensure all warehouse volunteers are effectively supported and trained for allocated tasks and can develop in their roles.
• Supporting the volunteers’ health, safety and welfare during their shift.
• Coordinate corporate volunteer programmes and delivery, with support from the wider FSSW team.

Goods In and Storage

• Directly support the introduction of new food handling equipment and associated procedures to increase capacity and throughput of surplus food.
• Follow FSSW Goods in procedures including liaising with suppliers, completing relevant paperwork, using inhouse software and fork-lifting duties.
• Ensure pickable and non-pickable areas are ready to always receive goods in and dispatch orders.
• Manage storage of stock within the warehouse, including:

o Assisting with stock checks

o Ensuring effective stock rotation and sharing best practice

• Oversee the dispatch of goods through deliveries and collections ensuring all FSSW procedures are followed.
• Liaise with the wider FSSW team and FSUK to report quality, quantities and other issues.

Compliance and Health & Safety

• Operate according to the FareShare HACCP Food Safety Manual.
• Support the Hub Manager to ensure compliance with relevant Food Hygiene, Health & Safety and other standards applicable to FareShare premises, vehicles, refrigeration equipment, staff and volunteers.
• Ensure the warehouse complies with FareShare standards and processes as per the FSSW Warehouse Manual.
• Undertake relevant training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety as required.

General

• Respond to/answer any enquiries/communications via telephone, email, in person or via inhouse IT/systems.
• Be willing to receive and engage positively with any visitors to the warehouse.
• Support FSSW events.
• Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the main purpose of the role, including liaising with the wider FSSW team.
• Uphold high quality customer care and standards of conduct when dealing with all stakeholders and the public.
• Ensure the security of the FSSW Hub and all assets located within it, including food.
• Driving and fork-lifting duties where appropriate.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Ability to develop, initiate and maintain systems and procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good administrative and organisational ability.
• Problem solver and competent decision maker.
• Full UK driving licence.
• IT competent and able to use various IT platforms/systems.
• Experience and knowledge of adhering to health and safety standards within a warehouse operation.
• Forklift truck operator’s qualification (or willing to train as an essential part of the role).
• Awareness of and commitment to safeguarding principles when working with volunteers and vulnerable groups.
• Proactive approach to ensuring safety, compliance and hygiene in line with organisational policies.

Desirable

• One year’s experience of working in warehousing operations.
• Experience of working in the voluntary/community sector.
• Experience of working with people who require support.
• Experience of working within a food operation.
• Qualification in Food Hygiene Level 2.
• Experience of supervising/managing staff and/or volunteers and delegating tasks.
• Experience of delivering training.

Attributes & Values

• A clear commitment to the ethos of FareShare South West, to the agreed plans of the organisation, and able to positively contribute towards its achievement.
• Values equity, diversity and inclusion and creates welcoming environments for people from all backgrounds.
• Has a flexible, can-do attitude and is comfortable with adapting priorities and responsibilities.
• Respectful, supportive and empathetic when working with people from all walks of life.
• Positively engages with constructive feedback and opportunities for learning.

Behaviours

• Takes ownership and shows initiative in problem-solving.
• Leads by example with a consistent, proactive and supportive attitude.
• Works effectively across teams and builds productive relationships internally and externally.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Treats colleagues, volunteers and partners with integrity and professionalism.
• Acts as an ambassador for FareShare South West and promotes its values through day-to-day work.

Please send your CV and covering letter to: Louise Zaal (email address recruitment@faresharesouthwest.org.uk).
If you need additional support with your application or would like more information, please contact Louise Zaal email: louise.zaal@faresharesouthwest.org.uk
Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Sick pay

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Plymouth PL6 7AE: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Full UK Drivers License (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 17/06/202

Please refer the Job description for details